Hatchet is a story of individual survival against great odds. It tells how a routine journey turns into a life-threatening and life-changing experience. The central character, thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson , is stranded alone at a lake deep in the Canadian wilderness for fifty-four days after after his plane crashes. Stripped of all the comforts and conveniences of his former life, Brian must find the inner resources that will help him fight for his life and ultimately move from childhood into adulthood. Gary Paulsen uses his personal wilderness experience to bring this book to life.